STEM Equity Pipeline Webinars Archived for Easy Access

The STEM Equity Pipeline, under the auspices of the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity Education Foundation, has archived many webinars for public access, including a number regarding the five-step program improvement process series, Generating Expectations for Student Achievement (GESA), Effective Program Assessments, Cognitive Beliefs and Cultural Variables in STEM, How to Market your CTE STEM Program, and many others.  http://www.stemequitypipeline.org/ProfessionalDevelopment/ArchivedWebinars.aspx

NASA Endeavour Science Teaching Certificate and Fellowship Program Application Due by 10/15/11

The NASA Endeavour Teaching Certificate and Fellowship Program cohort 4, beginning January 2012, is accepting applications through 15 October 2011.  Up to 50 current and prospective K-12 formal educators of STEM subjects receive one-year fellowships to study on-line graduate courses "to apply research-based pedagogical strategies and cutting-edge STEM content to their classroom contexts while becoming a part of a special network of like-minded educators across the Nation."  School districts may also sponsor teachers to participate alongside the NASA Fellows.  The program is administered by U.S. Satellite Laboratory, Inc.

To obtain more information about the program, the courses offered, and application details, visit http://www.us-satellite.net/endeavor/index.cfm. 

SFTE Science and Technology Education Resource (STERO) Classroom Grant Applications Due by 9/30/11

The Antelope Valley chapter of the Society of Flight Test Engineers has announced the availability of $200 grants for classroom projects of AV K-8 educators.  Special consideration will be given to projects related to aviation or aerospace, although that is not a requirement.  Applications must be received by 30 September 2011, and selectees will be notified in late October.

For the STERO application and more information, please contact Carmen Prater at carmenpratersfte@gmail.com..

NITARP Teacher Applications Due by 9/23/11

"NITARP, the NASA/IPAC Teacher Archive Research Program, gets teachers involved in authentic astronomical research, by partnering small groups of educators with a mentor professional astronomer for an *original*
research project. The educators incorporate the experience into their classrooms and share their experience with other teachers. The program runs January through January. Applications are available *now* and due by 23 September 2011.

"The kinds of educators we are looking for are those [formal and informal educators of students grades 8-13] who already know the basics of astronomy, are interested in learning  exactly how astronomy research is conducted, and are willing to share  their experiences with colleagues and students in their environment. Three all-reasonable-expenses-paid trips are integral to the program!"

For more information and application details, visit http://nitarp.ipac.caltech.edu/.

Lancaster Summer of Innovation Program Completed

Students at Lancaster School District SOI Week Participate in Model Rocket Launch

One hundred twelve middle school students participated in a week-long Summer of Innovation STEM camp held by the Lancaster School District.  The week culminated on Friday, 12 August 2011, with a series of model rocket launches by students, cheered on by parents and siblings. 

New SMAP Class Offered at AV and Quartz Hill High Schools

On August 8, 2011, the Antelope Valley Union High School District and Antelope Valley College started a pilot program called “Senior Mathematics Acceleration and Preparation” (SMAP) at Antelope Valley and Quartz Hill high schools. The goals of this program include helping students be prepared for college-level math and reducing the number of students who must take remedial math courses at AVC. Additionally, students will receive AVC credit through articulation for the highest math class completed during SMAP, and will be exempt from the AVC placement exam. Currently there are two sections at AVHS, taught by Scott Nevison, and two sections at QHHS, taught by Lorena Benavides. The pilot program is funded in part by the National Defense Education Program (NDEP) and the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), under an education partnership agreement between AFRL and AVUSHD.

(Thanks to Cindy Hendrix, AVUHSD Math & Science Curriculum Coordinator for this posting)

Office of Personnel Management "Pathways Program" to Replace Federal Career Intern Program

According to the Federal Times, the federal Office of Personnel Management has proposed rules and regulations for a new "Pathways Program," for student internships and hiring, which is designed to replace the now-defunct Federal Career Intern Program.  "Pathways consists of: an Internship Program for current high school, college, and certain home-schooled students; a Recent Graduates Program for people who have received a degree in the last two years, and the existing Presidential Management Fellows Program."  http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20110804/PERSONNEL02/108040306/

To review the entire set of proposed rules and regulations, visit http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-08-05/pdf/2011-19623.pdf.

Student Spaceflight Experiment Program to International Space Station - Proposals Due by 9/15/11

Students in grades 5 through 12 are able to participate in a unique opportunity to create an experiment which could be chosen to fly on the International Space Station.  This is a follow-up to competitions held with over 30,000 students participating allowing 27 experiments to fly aboard the late missions of the Space Shuttle.  Community proposals regarding participation are due by no later than 15 September 2011.  For more details and requirements, see : http://goo.gl/gVCCI.  Contact ssep@ncesse.org or call at: 301-395-0770 for further information and with questions.

NASA "Mass vs. Weight" Workshop Offered on 9/13/11

NASA's AERO Institute in Palmdale is offering a workshop on "Mass vs. Weight" for formal and informal educators for grades 5 through 9 on 13 September 2011, from 4:30 to 6:00 pm. 

"Do your students struggle with understanding mass vs. weight? If so, this is the workshop for you! We often confuse the terms "mass" and "weight" and use them interchangeably even though they have very different meanings. While using video and hands-on activities your students will be able to understand those terms along with career exploration and the operation of the International Space Station (ISS)."

To register, contact Sara Cutts at at sara.cutts@nasa.gov or (661) 276-3992.

US-Russian Collaborative Science Effort Proposals Sought by 8/31/11

The State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is seeking proposals from public and private 501(c)(3) organizations using connective technology to increase scientific collaboration between US and Russian secondary schools.  The "US-Russia Virtual Science Challenge for Youth" should incorporate private and public partnerships and existing networks.  Proposals are due by 31 August 2011.  For more details, visit http://exchanges.state.gov/grants/open2.html .

Universities Promote Engineering "Soft Skills"

Universities such as U of Houston, Rice, and Missouri U of Science and Technology are all teaching classes in and coaching their engineering students in soft skills, such as meal etiquette, handshaking and other social skills, and presentation.  Program directors have noted a deficiency in these areas in their students, resulting in a more difficult time landing internships or jobs.  Students, according to the recent story in the Houston Chronicle Archives, tend to rely more on their grades and technical skills, which most employers already presume exist.  http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2011_5067150

Back to School Kick-Off for FIRST Robotics 8/14/11

ABC-TV will air video on FIRST robotics on Sunday, 14 August at 7:00pm Eastern time; the one-hour special is called "i.am FIRST: Science is Rock & Roll."  For more info, check out http://iamfirst.dipdive.com/ . (Check your local programming guide for air time)

Commerce Dept. Research Report Addresses Gender Gap in STEM Careers

The US Dept. of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration has released a report which, despite a narrower comparable wage gap in STEM fields, females continue to lag behind in filling positions.  They represent 40% of workers in science fields, but only 14% in engineering.  Gender stereotyping, lack of female role models, and lack of flexibility in staffing are cited as some of the reasons for the continuing gender gap.  http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/08/women-in-science-and-tech-are-well-paid-but-gender-gap-persists-report-says.html  To view the full report, visit http://www.esa.doc.gov/sites/default/files/reports/documents/womeninstemagaptoinnovation8311.pdf

Victor Valley College Uses Robotic Simulators in Nursing Program

The Victor Valley Press reports that Victor Valley College is utilizing the SimMan 3G robotic simulator, "an advanced robotic patient simulator that mimics medical conditions and physiological responses to treatments" as a training aid in its expanding nursing program.  The high-tech simulator allows students to experience situations which they might not otherwise encounter in their clinical program, according to Dr. Joseph Morris, program director.  http://www.vvdailypress.com/news/simulator-29238-students-train.html

Real World Design Challenge Open for Registration

The annual Real World Design Challenge for high school students is now open for registration.  For more information about the challenge, visit http://www.realworlddesignchallenge.org/index.php.  Typically, the challenge is issued in October, with the deadline to register in November, followed by local and state competitions taking place before the national challenge is issued in February.

While California is not an official participant state, local teams may still take part.  The National Lieutenant Governor's Association issued a policy resolution in support of the initiative at its July 2011 meeting:  http://nlga.us/web-content/Conferences/2011%20AM%20Resolutions/NLGA%20Resolution%20on%20STEM%20-%20July%202011.pdf

Watch "LAB-TV" Webisodes on NDEP Website

The National Defense Education Program (NDEP) has two seasons of short LAB-TV "webisodes" on its website.  The short videos show students how STEM-based research is used at Department of Defense labs.  To access the webisodes, go to http://www.ndep.us/LabTV

Silicon Valley Driver for Technology Jobs

At a meeting of some members of the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness on 2 August, Steve Case (AOL founder), among other high-tech leaders in Silicon Valley, were hopeful that the region's technology companies and those using social media and other technology will drive a resurgence of job creation.  Entrepreneurship and innovation are seen as key components, along with "untangling visa regulations"  http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/08/02/MNH81KIE4Q.DTL&tsp=1 and education reform.  The need for STEM-skilled workers, particularly in green-tech and engineering, was also stressed.  http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=22024 

Case was also one of the keynotes at The Atlantic's "New Work Era Summit," on 19 July, along with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Sen. Mark Warner, and a distinguished panel on the subject of "Educating for Employment."  To view the sessions, visit http://events.theatlantic.com/new-work-era-summit/2011/ 

High School Students Finish Innovative Summer Class at Cal Lutheran

Twelve area high school students participating in the Engineering Innovation summer program at Cal Lutheran University competed in a bridge-breaking exercise.  The students had a week to design and build the structures out of spaghetti and glue; they had to weigh approximately 8 ounces and be able to hold at least a 2-pound basket (winners held 24 lbs.).  The four-week course was designed by Johns Hopkins University, and includes labs, projects, group work, and lectures.  Other sessions are held in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and Washington, D.C.  http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/jul/29/high-school-students-compete-in-a-bridge/

Similar bridge-building and breaking exercises are held in CAD/Drafting and Construction courses in the Antelope Valley Union High School District.  For more information, contact your high school counselor or CTE teacher.

Cal Poly SLO Getting New Math/Science Building

Construction is underway for a new math and science building at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.  The new 197,000 square foot facility, scheduled to open in 2013, will have classrooms and spaces for tutoring.  http://www.kionrightnow.com/story/15170310/construction-moving-forward-for-new-cal-poly-math-and-science-center